Load lifting and manipulating device for lift trucks



March 2, 1954 A. c. MERRICK 2,670,865

LOAD LIFTING AND MANIPULATING DEVICE FOR LIFT TRUCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 6, 1950 /77 V87? 2570; M/aen 6. Mer'P/ck yfzf-orneys M rch 2,4 A. c. MERRICK LOAD LIFTING AND MANIPULATING DEVICE FOR LIFT TRUCKSFiled July 6, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /n van to)" V/aen 61/7 err/ck /7/'swzrtor'nqgs March 2, 1954 A. c. MERRICK 2,670,865

LOAD LIFTING AND MANIPULATING DEVICE FOR LIFT TRUCKS Filed July 6, 19505 Sheets-Sheet 3 [77 V6)? (TO/' M/c/en 6. Nerf/ck Patented Mar. 2, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

a r 2,670,865 toshtrt risio ANDMAN PULATING DEVICE FOR LIFT TRUCKS Alden(iltjierrick, Albany, N. Y. iiiiifiritiii .iiilit; 1950, Serial No.172362 is ohms. (o1, alt-3 5 s) This invention relates to iinprove'r'iieits' in in dustrial fork lift trucks and, lfibi pa ticularly, to a loadlifting and manipulating device, or pairs of such devices, adapted to becarriedb'y the tines of the fork of such trucks, whereby to receive andtransport loads thereon, and to dis-' charge loads therefrom, and theprovision of such a device, or devices, as well as the eoinbina tion ofsuch trucks therewith is principal object of the invention. w

Ever since the development of industrial fork lift trucks it has been"customary to cai'ry loads on various conventional types of pallets.Until recently, one of the mostpopular types of pallet has been thewe1l-knownliardwood pallet in which cross boards are fastened tb'i thenarrow edges of spaced ap'ar't stringers'oi' cleats to provide a raisedplatform, where tliefo'rk-or tines Of an industrial fork-lift truck001116 readily be passed thereunder to p'i'o zzupt e pal The use of suchlift trucks with hard lets has produced tre ir e'r'idousi sav ghandlingof merchandise in indus warehouses, or when loading or on hicles,especially rn'otor trucks); tra s, freight cars, barges or boats;andio'the'r si'rn'ilar indi'istrial transportation equipment. However;it h generally been possible to eiitlnd thes 5a the shipment of good'sin such v' hicles eca hard wood palletsaretoo'eiipehsi thereof intransit and in 'returni'n I the freight rate on such" pallets Q thesagas that on the goods which the v; and'the return freight is alsoexcessive hsoatso such palletsoarry the sainehighratf a v H Another typeof pallet, perhaps not so wo'1 known as the hard wood palleii isjth'sexpendable pallet consisting; of' a s heavy corrugated board towhicfibuilt rolled strips providinglegs of corrugated or otherinexpensive materials a secure maintain the same in elevates positionsot at? the fork of an industrial lift truck" 62ml pass thereunderto'pickup the load and simultaneously as in the c I pallet. Such palletsare alsorelat" ely extortsive and unless properly handlii' often breakdown. in transit. V I n I A further type'of pallet"which*may soon comeinto widespread use comprises a oo struotioh constituting a fiat sheet-of inekpeiisive material not intended to be' held irrraised spaced"relation from' the'fioor" or grouhd suf face as" isthe" case" with thereoeomgit pesj pail f. shohfpant preferably" is made ofcdi'ru'gtitd'paprboardi or other suitable material; through which islaced or otherwise secured, for example, strands of wire having one ormore loops extending'froin the edges thereof in order that such a palletwhen supporting a load thereon can be lifted to an inclined position byengaging such loops with the free ends of the tines of the fork of alift truck. The pallet is then blocked in this position, the fork passedthereunder to lift the same with the load thereon" and carried toselected place to be unloaded. This type or pallet is' disclosed in aco-pending application of Lawrence F. McDonald and Charles J. Grace,Serial No. 85,815, filed April 6,, 1949, now aban' doned. A modified butmore simplified and economical form of such a pallet is described inconnection with the instant specification and which is particularlyadaptable for usein conjunction with one form of the present inventionherein disclosed. However, it should be understood that the presentinvention is designed to handle all forms of the foregoing types ofpal-- lets, including baled or wirebound loads which can be liftedwithout the use of any pallets; and the provision of such a device toaccomplish this purpose is a general object of this invention. Anothergeneral object of the invention is the provision of a device, ordevices, which are simple but sturdy and durable of construction, whichare economic of manufacture, readily and easily applied to the forks ofindustrial lift trucks, which will operate with relative freedom fromwear and tear, and other mechanical difficulties, and which otherwiseare well suited to the purposes for which they are intended. I Morespecifically, it is an object of the invention to produce a, loadlifting and manipulating device" adapted to be carried by the fork of anindustrial fork-lift truck which is equipped to receive, trans port anddischarge loads therefrom, comprising a sleeve member having a loadsupporting portion adapted to overlie the fork, a ground enga gingportion, connected to the supporting portion, underlying the fork, andmeans adapted to' en'- gage lifting elements on a'load supportingpallet, temporarily to lift one end thereof from the" ground. surfacewhile the other end thereof re mains in contact tlrierewith so that theraised end can be blocked in an elevated position, 'wheree by the forkof the truck can moveltli'e'" device beneath the raised end of thepallet until the ground-engaging portion thereof conta'cts'the groundand the load-supporting portion thereof receives thew'e'ight'of'theload,so thatthe"forl'z"- can pass along the sleeve and progressively trans:

3 fer the entire palleted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

Another object of the invention is to produce such a device having alaterally directed lug, or lugs, connected to the side, or sides, of thesleeve at its forward end in order to engage projecting lifting elementson a load supporting pallet.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device in which thesleeve portion is provided with a transversely extending cut-out sectionadjacent the forward edge of the load supporting portion for the purposeof engaging lifting elements on the load itself or certain types ofpallets.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device inwhich the sleeve is provided with a forwardly projecting member, or lug,which is adapted to raise various types of pallets such as those abovedescribed, including bales or wire-bound loads, including slatted cratesetc., or any irregular projections on such loads by engaging the same toraise them to such position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device whichis adapted for use with an industrial fork lift truck having limit stopsat the free ends of th tines of the fork, whereby to arrest the outwardmovement of the device and to maintain the same in position thereon, andin which such tines are preferably provided with intermediate limitstops intermediate their ends to engage and arrest inward movement ofthe sleeves, until a load is applied thereto, and a compression membercooperatively associating each tine and sleeve in order that the latterwill be held in abutting relation with such intermediate limit stop anddisengaged therefrom when a load is applied thereto.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of such a device inwhich the load supporting portion of the sleeve is inclined so that itsrear end is higher than its front end and at a suitable angle to receivea tilted load substantially squarely thereon, said device having atapered opening through the sleeve to accommodate the taper of aconventional fork of such a lift truck; in which the sleeve is providedwith a spacer member secured to the inner sidewall thereof to decreasethe size of the opening provided by the sleeve in order to compensatefor forks of smaller cross-sectional area, and also thereby to limittilting of the sleeve around the longitudinal axis of the fork; in whichthe sleeve is provided with an upstanding abutment member connected tothe rear of the sleeve to abut the load and to limit the distance towhich the sleeve can be moved under a load, and in which a link memberis connected at one end of the sleeve, and adapted to be connected tosuch a truck at its other end, to limit movement of the sleeve outwardlytoward the end of the fork.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of such device embodied bythe invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, with a portion broken away, of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig.3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary end portion of a fiat typeof pallet provided with lifting elements particularly adapted for use inconnection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1through 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fork of a lift truck with each tine of thefork being provided with a device of the type above described,illustrating the manner in which a pallet, such as that shown in Fig. 5,is initially engaged by such devices when carried by the fork of such atruck;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, and with partsbroken away, of a modified form of the invention depicted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view, looking from left to right of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in section and with parts broken away, ofFig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a device such as that depicted inFigs. '7 through 9 mounted on the fork of a. lift truck, the latterbeing illustrated fragmentarily, and depicting an initial step inraising a load mounted upon a pallet, of the type disclosed in theco-pending application hereinbefore mentioned, showing the load blockedin an inclined position;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10, but somewhat enlarged,illustrating the device moved into position underneath the blockedpalleted load;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 illustrating the fork of the lifttruck passing through the sleeve of the device progressively to shiftthe palleted load to position thereon;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating the palleted loadcompletely shifted into position onto the sleeve and fork; and

Fig. 14 shows the palleted load and sleeve being lifted verticallyupwardly for transportation and subsequent unloading.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 through 6 of the drawings,there is indicated generally at 20 a preferred form of load lifting andmanipulating device embodied by the invention and adapted to be carriedby the fork of an industrial lift truck. The device comprises a sleeveconstituting a load supporting portion or plate 2| adapted to overliethe tine of a fork, a ground-engaging portion or plate 22 adapted tounderlie the fork, and side plates 23 and 24 connecting both of theforegoing members. Preferably the side plates 23 and 24, and thegroundengaging plate 22, are mad in a single piece which is U-shaped incross-section and the load supporting plate 2! may be secured thereto asby welding. It will be observed that the plate 2| is higher at the rearend so that it is forwardly inclined in order more readily initially toengage a load in substantially flush position as will more fully appearhereinafter.

In order to accommodate the tines of a fork lift truck which arenarrower in cross-section, removable inner plates 25 and 26 are providedbetween which and the outside walls 23 and 24 are secured spacer blocks21 and 28 secured in position by means of bolts 29 and 30. It will beunderstood that the plates 25 and 26 are removably mounted within thesleeve portion of device :and that various .s'izes rot :blocks 52: and28 can be :utilized ito iincrease {or zdeorease ;the diameter :of the:sleeve order ito accommodate a wide range ;of adifie'rently rsizedtines ;comprising "the tfork of :such industrial lift tmck.

Latera'lly projecting from the forward end of the device are :one :or(more :lugs :or horns :29 and 30. :It will be observed that the surfacesthereof preferably are rounded, and rangularly dis.- posed to the:sleeve so :as to be inclined 'downwardly toward the 'w'alls 23 and '24:as :indicated generally at 3i and 32. Preferably, these :lugs orhoinsare welded into the position illustrated in the drawings.

Upwardly projecting from the inclined lplate 24 is a wall or limitistoplor-othei'z'suitable mem- 'ber 33 w-hich preferably-is disposed'a't 'rightxangles =to the plate 21. Suitable openings may be providedat the bottom of the plate '33 to acc'ommodate a limit stop cable 35, or'otherzsuitable chain or linkage arrangement secured to the "plate 33 atone end, the other end of said linkage arrangement being adapted "to b'esecured 150 a' portion of the lift truck 36 as indicated "at 3:!(Fig.6). A pair of such devices is there shown "mounted on the -tines 38of such an industrial lift truck. In FigJ5, there is shown a platform-orgroundengaging pallet 39 to which is secured 'at opposite ends thereof,aligned loops 4'0 and 1M. Pr'ef- -erab1y, such loops may constitute anystrong flexible material, even in the form of "tough fibers, or'stripso'f heavy=papernow available-' o'n {the market forsuch purposes. 7

'of *such loops are secured '*to the pallet I 39 'by means of, forexample, staples.

In order to raise such a pallet having a load thereon to an inclined"position, -'a pair of de- =vices such as that shown at -;a'fter havingbeen mounted on the tines 38, are moved to the ex- 'treme ends thereof,being limited by the length "of the cables-or 1inks35, So that thehornsor lugs 29 and '30 maysimultaneously engage'the loops 4i) and 4|,respectively,-by a slight pivotal movement of the truck. The particulartype pall'et 3'9"herein disclosed has been designed especially for usewith this typeof deviceybut the device can also be used -to'=pickuphardwood fpallets, or expendable types of pallets, such *asthose'hereinbefore described.

Referring now to Figs. "7 through 9, there is illustrated generally'atg50 another'iorm (if the device shown in "Figs. 1 through 4 which hasa wider rangeof appf ation in'tha't it is adapted to pick up loadsmounted on pallets-of"-the type described in the above-mentioned'co-ipending application, as well as baled or Wiredtypeso'f loads, andalso loads carried on conventional hard WQQd or expendable pallets. Sucha device also preferably constitutes an inclined load supportingportionor plate 5 l side walls-indicated'gen- I erally'at" 52 and 53;andagroundee gh ing por- 'tion or plate 54. In'theconstructionillustrated thetop 'plate 5 and'bot'tom paws; each haveextending side wall plates' 55, '56, 51"and{58"whic'h are so constructedand arranged that *they respectively form channels 'withthe plates 5 Iand =53, being U -'shaped in cross section zand adapted interfittinglyto engage each: other. 1 'Ihe 1egs 55 and '5l .of "each =1U-shape'dmemberifprovide the side wall 52 'andx'are securedximposition byz-holts?5.'9,xand the legs :56 and :58 constituting rthe-isid'e wall 53. ofeach ueshaped member :aressecured to ether -by bolt to. 2911 trimmerside The ends 42 and in the illust ation shows these is also disclosed:a spac r block 16 I which ,ma he :of any suitable diameter in order toaccommodate a sdifid tmfi size of itine compr s n the 011: pita #1 e Itwill heiunderstoodathatisuoh snaoerablqcksna-n lbe d laced on 0118 91rbothgsidesavithin thezsl ene portion icomprisin :th devic and thatthermos be of varying thicknesses in iorder also to accommodate :a widerange :of :forks 10f zdifie ent icross- :sectional diameter.

Mounted within ithe :sleeve is :a compression {member preferably in thestorm ;of is leaf :spring -6.2 :and {this preferably .-'is secured tothe under- -surface of the load nuppOfit-ing portion 554, tor eexample,by rmeans of zrivets 63. The free end .of Ethe :spring bears against the*top :of the rtine 5.6.4 .of "the fork and :holdsflthe :device 550iinlsnug inclined position :as shown aFlig. '7. The bote item .of thedevice comprising .,ground-:;en. :gaging portion 511 preferably ."isprovided with :projecting members 65.1incorder "more firmly engage aground sur'faceor :floor'to prevent slip,- .ping. There is also providedan upstanding member in the form of a platefiii projectingfrom the .loadsupporting :portion or plate 5i and this preferably is disposed ratsubstantially :right angles to :the latter. This "plate, like :the plate$3 described in connection with :the modifica- 'tion shown in Figs. 1Il7hrOug'h 4iS intended to abut the load when ithe d'evice is :put'iintoopera- :tion.

'Transversely extending along the outer marginal edge of thedevice:alongtheiload supporting portion '5! is alcut+outzportion orgroove 68, whereby pallets having extending 'll'oop portions may beengaged to lift thezsame 4:130 an' incline'd position. Also, preferably:projecting from the ground-engaging portion fi lis an extension memberor hook "69 adapted for the samepurpose. The plate 66 may have, forexample, openings or holes'fil for the reception-of a chain or cable,the opposite end of which may be'attached to the lift truck for thepurpose of limiting the outward-movement of the device inthemanner dis-:closed in connection with the cable 35 shown attached to the plate '33in Fig. 1. However, such "an arrangement may be dispensed "with in theevent it is-desired to alter the tineso'f the '-fork of the truck foraccomplishing "the same purpose. In otherwords, the ends of-the tinesmaytransversely bedrilled so that a long bolt'lll, with elements 1| maybesecu-red to the-=end theredf, Or-the ends-of the tines oanbe'rnanu'faeture'd with projections 12 such as that shown in Fig. '9 for{the reception of such -a bolt and spacer *members or other desirablelaterally extending wings to prevent'the device 50 from falling on theends of the'tines.

Itwill also be observed-thatth tines-disclosed in the drawings (seeFigs-l2, 13an'd 1'4) are-provided with an abutment 'or-shoulder 13. Sucha shoulder'maybe formed duringthe manufacture of the tines but it will'be understood that conventional tines of this characterpwhich havealready been manufactured, orthose-already in use, may be provided withabutments or limit stops by "securing a transversely extending piece of-meta1 thereto, either by welding "or bymachine screws, or by: providingan equivalent'shoulder in any other suitable manner. YI'h-etfunction ofLtsuch a shoulder, ;.or abutment, .is :to maintain the device inposition on the router rend i101 :the

ime 1 de to do this, the r lower ncrtion of the device, or sleeve s tionthereof must. be

will abut the shoulder 13 and this is accomplished by means of thecompression member or leaf spring 62.

Th operation of the device is illustrated in Figs. 10 through 14 inwhich an industrial fork lift truck, indicated generally at 14, is shownhaving mounted on the tines of the fork such a device as that indicatedat 50. i In Fig. 10 it will be observed that the device is first movedto the end of the tine until it is in abutting relation with theabutment H, or to the end of a cable if such a linkage arrangement isused, with the leaf spring 62 urging the inner sleeve in abuttingrelation with th shoulder 13. In lifting a jpalleted load 15, laden on apallet 16 of the type described in the above mentioned co-pendingapplication, the extension member or hook 69 on the device first engagesthe wires or loops ll of such a pallet and upwardly tilts the palletedload at one end to the position shown. A block '18 is then placed underthe upraised pallet. The fork of the truck is then lowered substantiallyto ground or surface contacting position and the truck is advanced insuch a manner that the device 50 moves under the palleted load until theupraised member or plat 68 comes into contact with the load 15,whereupon the device 50 is held in such position. The truck continues toadvance, the tines 64 of the fork moving forwardly through the openingin the device 50 forming the sleeve portion thereof as shown in Fig. 12.The forward motion of the truck is continued and it will be observedthat the weight of the load 14 progressively is transferred to the loadsupporting portion of the device 50, thereby depressing the spring 62which disengages the inner end of the ground-engaging portion 54 of thesleeve from the abutment or shoulder 13. As the truck continues toadvance, the load 14 continues progressively to be transferred towardthe truck and toward the rear or inner end of the fork. As the fork ortines continue to advance, the ends thereof engage the underside of thepallet, thereby raising the entire load from the ground or floor surfaceuntil the palleted load is shifted onto the load supporting portion ofthe device and fork of the truck in substantially abutting relation withthe vertical mast or fork portions of the truck. Thereupon th entireload is caused to be raised vertically upwardly by the fork and the loadtransferred to any desired place for unloading. The unloading isaccomplished by a reversal of the above described operational steps. 1

It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readilyand eiliciently be attained and since certain changes may be made in theabove construction and different embodiments of the invention could bemade without departing fromthe scope thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might ,be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A load lifting and manipulating device normally adapted to be carriedby the free end of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truck and co-'operatively associated therewith, whereby to pick up, transport anddischarge loads, which comprises a slidable sleeve having a loadsupporting portion adapted to overlie said fork, a groundengagingportion, connected to said supporting portion, and adapted to underliesaid fork, a laterally directed lug connected to one side of said sleeveat its forward end adapted to engage projecting lifting elements on aload supporting pallet temporarily to lift one end thereof from theground while the other end thereof remains in contact therewith so thatthe raised end can be blocked in an elevated and inclined position, saiddevic being so constructed and arranged that the fork of said truck canmove the same beneath the raised end of said pallet until theground-engaging portion of the sleeve will contact the ground, and theload supporting portion thereof will receive the weight of the load, sothat the fork can pass forwardly along the sleeve and progressivelytransfer the entire pal leted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

2. A load lifting and manipulating device normally adapted to be carriedby the free end of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truck andcooperatively associated therewith, whereby to pick up, transport anddischarge loads, which comprises a slidable sleeve having a loadsupporting portion adapted to overlie said fork, a ground-engagingportion, connected to said supporting portion, and adapted to underliesaid fork, said ground-engaging portion comprising a member that isU-shaped in cross-section, the upstanding legs of which are connected tosaid load supporting portion, a spacer member secured to the inside of aleg of said U-shaped member to decrease the size of the opening providedby said sleeve, whereby the latter is adapted to accommodate forks of afork-lift truck of smaller cross-sectional area and to limit tilting ofsaid sleeve around the long axis of said fork, and laterally directedlugs connected to opposite sides of said sleeve at its forward end andadapted to engage projecting lifting elements on a load supportingpallet temporarily to lift one end thereof from the ground while theother end thereof remains in contact therewith so that the raised endcan be blocked in an elevated and inclined position, said device beingso constructed and arranged that the fork of said truck can move thesame beneath the raised end of said pallet until the ground-engagingportion of the sleeve will contact the ground, and the load supportingportion thereof will receive the weight of the load, so that the forkcan pass forwardly along the sleeve and progressively transfer theentire palleted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

3. A load lifting and manipulating device adapted to be carried by thefork of an industrial fork-lift truck and cooperatively associatedtherewith, whereby to receive, transport and discharge loads, whichcomprises a sleeve having a load supporting portion adapted to overliesaid fork, a ground-engaging portion, connected to said supportingportion, and adapted to underlie said fork, means connected to theunderside of said load supporting portion and adapted to engage the topof said fork to hold the sleeve in upwardly spaced relation thereto andto maintain the bottom of the sleeve, at its rear end, in contact withthe underside of the fork, and further adapted to hold the bottom rearedge of said sleeve in locked relation to an abutment on the bottom ofsaid fork, whereby said first named $9 means, whenddepressed, vvilleause said bottom rear edge of said sleeve to become disengaged ir-omsaid abutment, and means adapted to en- 'projectmg lifting elements on aload supporting pallet temp'orarily to one end thereof fir-om "theground while the o'ther end thereof remains *in contacttherewith so'thatthe raised end can'loe blocked in an elevated and inclined position,said device being so constructed and arranged that the fork of saidtruck can move the same beneath the raised end of said pallet until theground-engaging portion of the sleeve *will conta'ct the ground, and"the load supporting surface thereof will receive the weight of theload, so that the fork can passalong the sleeve and progressivelytrans'fefthe entire palleted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

- 1. device as described in claim 3, and further icharacterized :in thatsaid first mentioned A :meansoonstitutes alleaf spring.

"5. A device according toclaim3, and further :characterized in that saidsleeve comprises two (generally U-"shaped members having their legs inoverlapped relation and secured together to provide the sides o'fsaidsleeve, with the base 'of :one of said members providing said loadsupporting portion,:and the base of'theother-of said members providingthe ground-engaging portion.

6. .ndevice as defined in claim 3, and further mharac'terized in thatsaid ground-engaging por- *tiono'f said sleeve is provided with aplurality of "downwardly projecting ground-engaging fricitional elementsto maintain said sleeve firmly in position as said load progressively isbeing transferred thereto and :onto said fork.

"7. -A'iload lifting and manipulating device re- :movably and slidablyto be mounted on the fork of 'an industrial iforklift 'truck andcooperatively associated therewith, whereby to receive, transport anddischarge loads, which comprises a sleeve having a iloadr-supportingportion adapted to overlie said fork, a ground-engaging portion,connected to said supporting-portion, andadapted to underlie said fork,and means, including :a sleeve end portion :having a cut-out sectionextending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said sleeve adjacentthe forward :edge of the load'supporting portion of said sleeve, adaptedto engage projecting lifting elements on a loadsupportingpalletitemporarily to lift on endthereof from the ground whilethe other end thereof :remains :in contact "therewith so that the raisedend can be'blocked in an elevated and inclined position, said devicebeing so constructed and arranged that the fork of said truck can movethe same beneath :the raised end of said pallet until theground-"engaging portion of the sleeve will contact the ground, :andtheload supporting portion thereof will receive the weight of the load, sothat the fork can -pass alongthe sleeve and progressively transfer theentire palleted loadrinto position on the sleeve and fork.

8. .A load lifting and manipulating device removably and slidably to bemounted on :the fork iof an industrial fork -lift -truok andcooperatively associated therewith, whereby "to receive, trans port anddischarge loads, which comprises a sleeve having a load supportingportion adapted to overlie said fork, a ground-engaging portion,connect-ed'to said. supporting portion, and adapted to underlie saidfork, and means, including :a fixed outwardly projecting lug extendingfrom .the forward edge ofsaid sleeve, :adaptedto engage projectinglifting elements .on a load supviporting :pallet temporarily t liftnoneend thereof saevropos from the ground -Whi1e the other -:end thereofremains in contact therewith so that the'zrais'ed end can be blocked inan elevated and inclined position, said device being so constructed andarranged that the fork of 'saidtruck can 'move the same beneath theraised end of said pallet until the ground-engaging portion of "thesleeve will contact the ground, and the load supporting portion thereofwill receive the weight of the load, so that the fork can pass along'thesleeve and progressively transfer the entire pallted loadv into positionon the sleeve and-fork.

9. The combination of an 'industrial fork-lift truck with a lo'adliftingand'manipula'ting device mounted on the tine of the fork of said truckand relatively movable with respect 'to the longi- 'tudinal axis thereofand cooperatively connected thereto to pick up and transport'loadsthereon, said device comprising a s'lidable-sleeve having a loadsupporting portion overlying each tine, "a ground-engaging portion,connected to said=supporting portion, underlying the tine, and hatedmeans on the sleeve adapted to engage prdie'ting lifting elements on aload supporting pallet temporarily to lift one end thereof from theground while the other end thereof remains in contact therewith so thatthe raised'end can be blocked in an elevated and inclined position, saiddevice being so constructed and arranged with respect to the fork ofsaid truck thatthe for-k'can move the same beneath the raised end ofsaid pallet until the ground-engaging portion 'o'f the sleeve willcontact the ground,'and the'loadsupporting surface thereof will receivethe weight of the load, so that the fork canp'ass forwardly along thesleeve and progressively transfer *the entire palleted load intoposition on the sleeve and fork.

'10. A device according to claim 9, and further characterized in thatsaid means in'cludes a lifting hook forwardly extending from said sleevewhereby to engage said projecting lifting elements on load supportingpallets.

'11. A device-according to claim 9, and further characterized in thatthe tines of the fork are provided at their free ends with limit stopmem bers adapted to engage and arrest "the outward "movement of "saidsleeves and maintain them in mounted positionon said tines.

12. A device according to claim 9, and further characterized in thatsaid tines are provided with limit stops intermediate their ends andadapted to engage and arrest inward "movement of said sleeve until aload is appliedthereto, and a compression member cooperativelyassociating each tine and sleeve, whereby said sleeve is held inabutting relation withsaidrlimitstop, and disengaged therefrom whenthereto.

13. A load lifting and manipulating device removably and slida-blymounted upon the free end of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truckand to be cooperatively associated therewith, whereby to pick up,transport and discharge loads, which comprises a slida'ble sleeve member"having'a load supporting portion adapted 'to overlie said fork, aground-engaging portion, connected to said supporting portion, andadapted to underlie said fork, "and fixed means directly connected toand laterally projecting from said sleeve adapted to engage projectinglifting elements on a load supporting 'pallettemporarily to "lift oneend thereof from thefground while th other end thereof remainsincontaet'therewith'so that the raised end can be blocked in an elevated"and "insaid load is applied clined position, said device being soconstructed and arranged with respect to the fork of said ,truck thatthe fork can move the same beneath to pick up transport and dischargeloads, which comprises a slidable sleeve member having a load supportingportion adapted to overlie said fork, a ground-engaging portionconnected to said supporting portion, and adapted to underlie said fork,said load supporting portion being inclined so that its rear end ishigher than the front end and at an angle to receive a tilted loadsubstantially flush thereon, said sleeve having a tapered openingtherethrough t accommodate the taper of a fork, and fixed means directlyconnected to and outwardly projecting from said sleeve adapted to engageprojecting elements on a load supporting pallet temporarily to lift oneend thereof from the ground while the other end thereof remains incontact therewith so that the raised end can be blocked in an elevatedand inclined position, said device being so constructed .and arrangedthat the fork of said truck can move the same beneath the raised end ofsaid pallet until the ground-engaging portion of the sleeve will contactthe ground, and the load Supporting surface thereof will receive theweight of the load, so that the fork can pass forwardly along the sleeveand progressively transfer the entire palleted load into position on thesleeve and fork.

-15. A load lifting and manipulating device adapted normally to becarried by the free end -of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truckand cooperatively associated therewith, whereby to vpick up transportand discharge loads, which comprises a slidable sleeve having a loadsupporting portion adapted to overlie said fork, a

ground-engaging portion, connected to said supporting portion, andadapted to underlie said fork, side plates connecting said portions tohold them in spaced relation and to provide a passage therebetween forsaid fork, a spacer member removably secured to the inside of at leastone of said plates to decrease the size of the opening provided by saidsleeve, whereby said sleeve is adapted to accommodate forks of smallercross-sectional area and to limit tilting of said sleeve around thelongitudinal axis of said fork, and fixed means directly connected toand outwardly projecting from said sleeve adapted to engage projectinglifting elements on a load supporting pallet temporarily to lift one endthereof from the ground while the other end thereof remains in contacttherewith so that the raised end can be blocked in an elevated andinclined position, said device being so constructed and arranged thatthe fork of said truck can move the same beneath the raised end of saidpallet until the ground-engaging portion of the sleeve will contact theground, and the load supporting portion thereof will receive the weightof the load, so that the fork can pass forwardly along the sleeve andprogressively transfer the 12 entire palleted load into position on thesleeve and fork.

16. A load lifting and manipulating device adapted normally to becarried by the free end of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truck andcooperatively associated therewith, whereby to pick up transport anddischarge loads, which comprises a slidable sleeve having a rearwardlyinclined load supporting portion adapted to overlie said fork, aground-engaging portion, connected to said supporting portion, andadapted to underlie said fork, an upstanding abutment member integralwith the rear of said inclined load supporting portion and normalthereto, adapted to abut said load and to limit the distance to whichsaid sleeve can be moved underneath a load prior to lifting such load,and fixed means directly connected to and outwardly projecting from saidsleeve adapted to engage projecting lifting elements on a loadsupporting pallet temporarily to lift one end thereof from the groundwhile the other end thereof remains in contact therewith so that theraised end can be blocked in an elevated and inclined position, saiddevice being so constructed and arranged that the fork of said truck canmove the same beneath the raised end of said pallet until theground-engaging portion of the sleeve will contact the ground, and theload supporting surface thereof will receive the weight of the load, sothat the fork can pass forwardly along the sleeve and progressivelytransfer the entire palleted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

17. A load lifting and manipulating device adapted normally to becarried by the free end of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truck andcooperatively associated therewith, whereby to pick up transport anddischarge loads, which comprises a slidable sleeve having a loadsupporting portion adapted to overlie said fork, a ground-engagingportion, connected to said supporting portion, and adapted to underliesaid fork, said ground-engaging portion comprising a U-shaped member,the upstanding legs of which are rearwardly inclined and connected tosaid load supporting portion which is similarly inclined, and meansdirectly connected to and outwardly projecting from said sleeve adaptedto engage projecting lifting elements on a load supporting pallettemporarily to lift one end thereof from the ground while the other endthereof remains in contact therewith so that the raised end can beblocked in an elevated and inclined position, said device beingso'constructed and arranged that the fork of said truck can move thesame beneath the raised end of said pallet until the ground-engagingportion of the sleeve will contact the ground, and the load supportingsurface thereof will receive the weight of the load, so that the forkcan pass forwardly along the sleeve and progressively transfer theentire palleted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

18. A load lifting and manipulating device adapted normally to becarried by the free end of the fork of an industrial fork-lift truck andcooperatively associated therewith, whereby to pick up transport anddischarge loads, which comprises a slidable sleeve having a loadsupporting portion adapted to overlie said fork, a ground-engagingportion, connected to said supporting portion, and adapted to underliesaid fork, a link member connected at one end to said sleeve and adaptedto be connected to said truck 13 at its other end, said link being of alength adapted to cause said sleeve to be limited in its movementoutwardly toward the end of said fork and to maintain the same inposition thereon, and fixed means directly connected to and outwardlyprojecting from said sleeve adapted to engage projecting liftingelements on a load supporting pallet temporarily to lift one end thereoffrom the ground while the other end thereof remains in contact therewithso that the raised end can be blocked in an elevated and inclinedposition, said device being so constructed and arranged that the fork ofsaid truck can move the same beneath the raised end of said pallet untilthe ground-engaging portion of the sleeve will contact the ground, andthe load supporting surface thereof will receive the weight of the load,so that the fork can pass forwardly along the sleeve and progressivelytransfer the entire palleted load into position on the sleeve and fork.

ALDEN C. MERRICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,709,737 Perry Apr. 16, 1929 1,924,885 Schreck Aug. 29, 19332,362,991 Dahl Nov. 21, 1944 2,517,938 Stevenson Aug. 8, 1950 2,536,883McDonald et a1. Jan. 2, 1951 2,560,206 Beatty July 10, 19 1 2,570,726Smith Oct. 9, 1951 2,572,945 Quesnoit Oct. 30, 1951 2,616,578 DunhamNov. 4, 1952

